Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 17, 2026
Assessment and Evaluation of the High Risk Neonate: The NICU Network Neurobehavioral Scale
Published on: August 25, 2014
Newborn screening for congenital hypothyroidism in early discharged infants
Carmelita Fagela-Domingo1, Carmencita D Padilla
1Section of Endocrinology, Department of Pediatrics, College of Medicine and Philippine General Hospital, University of the Philippines Manila.
Insights
Newborn thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) levels measured 12-24 hours after birth do not reliably predict later TSH levels at 48-72 hours. Factors like sex and cesarean delivery influence later TSH levels.
Area of Science:
- Neonatal endocrinology
- Pediatric diagnostics
Background:
- Thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) is crucial for neonatal screening.
- Understanding TSH dynamics in newborns is vital for early detection of thyroid dysfunction.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the quantitative relationship between early (12-24 hours) and later (48-72 hours) newborn TSH levels.
- To assess the predictive value of early TSH for later TSH levels.
- To identify factors influencing TSH levels at 48-72 hours.
Main Methods:
- Prospective study involving 1370 full-term infants.
- Measurement of TSH levels at two distinct time points: 12-24 hours and 48-72 hours of life.
- Statistical analysis including correlation and multiple regression.
Main Results:
- A significant association was found between TSH levels at 12-24 hours and 48-72 hours.
- Early TSH levels alone were insufficient to clinically predict later TSH values.
- Infant sex and cesarean delivery were identified as significant factors affecting TSH levels at 48-72 hours.
Conclusions:
- Early newborn TSH measurements (12-24 hours) have limited predictive power for TSH levels at 48-72 hours.
- Clinical prediction of later TSH levels requires consideration of additional factors beyond initial TSH values.
- Neonatal sex and mode of delivery are important variables influencing TSH levels in the first 72 hours of life.
Abstract:
A study of newborn thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) levels was undertaken to determine whether a quantitative relationship exists between TSH values obtained between the 12th to 24th hours of life and the 48th to 72nd hours of life. The study was designed to: (a) measure TSH levels in full term newborns between the 12th - 24th hours of life, (b) measure TSH levels in the same set of newborns at 48 - 72 hours of life, (c) correlate TSH values obtained during the two time periods of specimen collection, (d) determine whether TSH results at 12 to 24 hours are predictive of TSH levels at 8 to 72 hours, and (e) determine the effects of other factors on TSH 48-72. One thousand three hundred seventy full term normal infants delivered at the Philippine General Hospital and at the Rizal Medical Center from August 1999 to March 2001 participated in the study. Eighty-three percent were from Metro Manila and the rest from the provinces. Although there was a significant association between TSH12-24 and TSH48-72, the magnitude of association could not account for all of the variance in the TSH48-72 values. By itself, TSH12-24 cannot clinically predict 48-72 hour TSH levels. Multiple regression analysis showed that sex and mode of delivery by cesarean section were significant factors affecting TSH levels at 48-72 hours.